Step 6.6
"What's going on?" Dad asked. I held my phone tightly, trying to find the words to give him any sort of answer. How do I explain dead kids only a little younger than his daughter? "The news is saying something about kids dying."
"I can't talk about it right now, Dad," I said. I stepped back so Dinah could slip past me. "I'm sorry. This is happening really fast."
So fast I barely had time to keep up, or even do any independent research.
Ramius said Cranial, and that name got me sort of caught up. I think I looked her up at some point somewhere, but couldn't remember exactly when. Probably while researching Toybox, because fate loves screwing with me.
Ten years. I didn't get that part. How did anyone let her run around kidnapping children and doing who knows what to them for ten years? Nothing I found explicitly said it, but surely Toybox kicked her out for that reason. They didn't need that kind of heat, and as hypocritical as it might be to me I got it.
I didn't get the Protectorate or the PRT or the Guild turning a blind eye to it. The situation might as well be the definition of why I didn't want to join the Wards or the Protectorate. Cranial should have been stopped years ago. Those kids might still be alive if she were.
"You just vanished, Taylor," Dad said. "Wh-"
"I need to go," I said. "The PRT is literally calling everyone for some big meeting about what happened. I'll talk to you as soon as I can, I have to go."
"I love you, Taylor."
"I know, Dad." I closed the phone and turned. "You don't have to come."
"I'm fine," Lafter said with a smile. She took one shower and I honestly couldn't tell she'd been crying. Hell, if not for seeing it with my own two eyes, I'd call anyone who made such a claim a liar. "Let's go."
She climbed into the van behind Dinah, and I briefly debated making her stay behind.
But, if it were me, I'd want nothing more than to beat Cranial into a bloody mess.
And I did.
So I climbed in after her, and Veda started driving. Pretty packed with Astraea loaded into the van with us. Lafter sat on my suits chest, hunched over so her head didn't hit the ceiling. Dinah sat backwards in the cockpit, eyes fixed forward.
Ramius gave me the address and suggested I be on my best behavior. The PRT and Protectorate wanted to talk to everyone. Not sure why they didn't want to have the meeting at the PRT HQ. Instead the address led into the middle of the city, or what I considered the middle. The corner of Downtown where all the city government buildings defined no-man's land in Brockton Bay. The ABB, Empire, and the Merchants all stayed away from it because city hall, the county court house, the library, and a few other major buildings all resided in the same three blocks.
The only other place gangs were so scarce was around the Boardwalk, the PRT building, and Arcadia.
I spent the drive catching Dinah and Lafter up on Cranial.
"She used to be in Toybox. I can't find the details, but they kicked her out around the time Leviathan appeared. They probably found out she was experimenting on kids and figured it would bring more heat than they wanted."
"And the PRT didn't do anything about it?" Dinah asked.
"Some people matter less than others," Veda said. "Many of her victims are wharf rats and orphans. She has not been regarded as a dire threat and resources have not been dedicated to apprehending her."
"Her victims have never died before though," I added. "Or at least, I couldn't find a single report of any of them dying."
Because things also go bad in Brockton.
I found it weird to think about. First Ali Al-Saachez comes to the bay to kill Relena Peacecraft, and then Cranial? Two international 'badly wanted' criminals in the space of a few weeks? It's like Brockton Bay really is cursed.
"She's either been hiding the bodies very well," I said, "or she messed up."
Lafter cracked her knuckles behind me. I didn't say anything, though I worried she might take offense at the phrasing. Some team leader I am, too afraid to do anything more than ask if someone is okay and simply accept the answer they give me.
Veda pulled up into a parking garage. Men and women in plains clothes loitered around the entrance, but I recognized some of them vaguely. All of them were PRT troopers, but why hang around in plainclothes?
One stepped up and raised his hand as we approached. He looked a little surprised to find a machine driving the vehicle, but nodded when he looked past Veda's camera at me. He waved us through and other troopers inside the building directed us up a series of ramps to one of the higher levels of the structure.
When Ramius said everyone, she meant everyone.
The Protectorate stood in a line by the onramp, Armsmaster a step ahead of his team and the Wards directly behind them.
The Protectorate leader stepped out as we drove onto the floor and silently directed us to the right of his line. Veda parked, and we all got out together.
"Newtype," Armsmaster said stiffly. "Laughter and Forecast. Is StarGazer observing?"
"I am," Veda said through my phone.
My van opened behind us, the mechanical arms working to raise Astraea and lower my suit onto the ground.
"There shouldn't be any need for your suit right now," Armsmaster said. "I ask that you be present but quiet until we ask for questions. All arrest warrants are suspended for the time being on these premises."
"Fine," I said. Arrest warrants? Why did that even matter?
Armsmaster returned to his position, standing at attention with his halberd at his side. The Protectorate members all looked apprehensive, Miss Militia and Stratos being the closest to me followed by Dauntless, Velocity, Prism, and Triumph. The Wards looked even more nervous behind them, Aegis standing slightly ahead of the others.
I took to standing beside Astraea. The Haros eventually arrived, and all six of them hovered around me. Lafter and Dinah stood to my left, Dinah about ten feet from Vista at the right side of the Ward's line.
The entire floor lay empty besides us. Not even troopers in sight.
"What's with all the secrecy?" I asked.
Armsmaster frowned at me, but I honestly didn't think 'be quiet' included while we waited for New Wave.
"The PRT prefers that meetings like this not be openly advertised," Stratos answered. His voice sounded a lot more strained than normal. "They generally only happen in crisis situations, when we don't have much choice."
I raised my brow at that, not remembering there being much secrecy after the Simurgh's attack. The PRT openly advertised calling in independent heroes and asking for their help. Then again, an Endbringer didn't really define the PRT and Protectorate's failures the same way Cranial's ongoing criminality did.
New Wave arrived a few minutes after we did, and like us they arrived in a van. Manpower and Lady Photon took the lead, greeting Armsmaster and arranging their family into a line on the other side of the Protectorate and Wards. Vicky waved at us while she helped Panacea out of the van, and Panacea gave me another mean glare.
I'm going to blame Lafter for that.
"This is kind of weird," Lafter whispered.
"What is?" Dinah asked.
"Well, these are all the heroes in the city right?" She looked down the long line we all formed. Nearly twenty-five in total between all the members of New Wave, Protectorate, Wards, and the still not publically named Celestial Being. "Why are we all arranged facing the rest of an empty room?"
Now that she mentions it, that is weird.
I didn't need to ponder for long. Another van pulled onto the parking level, and when it opened my heart picked up.
Tattletale stepped out in the lead, followed by Grue, Sovereign, and Hellhound. The tall butch girl in the cheap dog mask pointed to her side and three dogs sat on the floor. Two looked pretty intimidating on their own, but the third seemed a little small and like it lost a fight with a lawnmower.
"Undersiders," Armsmaster greeted. His voice seemed a little strained, even more so than when he greeted me.
"We heard what happened," Grue answered. "Five kids?"
"Yes," Armsmaster said. "We're still waiting for all parties who wish to attend. I'll give a briefing after they have arrived."
The realization came slowly.
When Ramius said everyone, she really did mean everyone.
Faultline and Circus arrived next. The former gave Tattletale a look, and the rogue villains in the city all seemed to form a general group to the right of Dinah, Lafter, and me. You wouldn't think standing in a room with villains would be that hard, but I found it hard. Faultline and her team I didn't mind too much. They kept themselves to a certain code of behavior, and they avoided being overly violent. Circus and the Undersiders on the other hand, not so much. I certainly didn't feel any love lost toward Tattletale.
It only got worse from there.
I got my first glimpse of Coil. A tall skeletal man, a similar build to my Dad, with a tight black costume depicting a white snake coiling around him. I'd give him credit, cause I didn't even want to look at him the costume hugged his body so tightly.
Dinah tensed up when he stepped out of his car.
"It's okay," I said over our private line. "It's a truce."
Movement to the left caught my eye, and I cursed. Tattletale can probably read lips, and she probably saw Forecast tense up. She might figure something out from that.
Who in their right mind lets thinkers and masters in on this?
That went for Coil too. Dinah couldn't tell what his power was with her power, but he didn't seem to be anything flashy. Certainly a thinker, master, or stranger. Either could fit depending and I didn't know any more than anyone else about him. Of all the villains in the city Coil hid from me the best.
Kaiser arrived with Fenja, Menja, and Krieg beside him. They all glared at me, but they took up standing between Coil and the independent villains. Least they didn't bring Hookwolf. Not sure he possessed enough self-control not to attack me on sight.
The most unpleasant surprise, for me at least, came when Oni Lee just materialized in the room. Lung and Bakuda walked up the ramp rather than drive, two guys in ABB colors trailing behind them. Oni Lee stood on two damn legs, one of which was clearly tinker tech from the way it looked.
Lovely.
I swear you could detonate the tension in the air with some flint.
Everyone stood stiffly in a wide circle, save that smug blonde bitch and Lung. The two of them seemed content to either smile at everyone or glare.
I suppose that made me feel a little better. New Wave didn't look any happier to be in the presence of villains than I did, especially Brandish and Glory Girl. The Wards put up a brave face, but their nervousness showed. I actually got the sense they didn't know this was happening any more than I did.
I didn't blame them. Remembering the battle between Lung and the Merchants' tank from months back, being anywhere near him and not in my suit raised my anxiety. Hopefully no one – yes, Tattletale, fuck you – noticed. Kaiser could easily kill me in the situation too, and that fucking sucked.
And to top off the shit sack, Tattletale kept grinning at me, like she knew every insecurity I felt in the situation.
Actually, glaring at her from the corner of my eye helped a bit with said insecurity. Gave me something to focus on other than the threat of being burned and-or skewered alive.
"Thirty minutes have passed," Armsmaster said, breaking the silence. "I will assume representatives of the Merchants do not intend to come and move on."
"Preferable," Coil said. "I don't think we want this many capes standing around waiting for something to happen. Not to demean anyone here, but we're hardly friends."
"I'd rather not be here any longer than necessary myself," Brandish said. "Let's get on with," – someone zipped past her – "it."
I blinked, turning my head to my right.
Trevor stood in front of Astraea, looking up at my suit curiously. Then he turned around, doing a slow circle of the room and glancing at every villain in turn before coming back to face me.
"Am-Am I late?" He asked.
The entire room glared at him.
Idiot.
"Oh yeah," Tattletale said from across the room. "Also, I'd try saying hello. It works better than awkwardly standing and hoping she notices."
"What?" Trevor asked.
"Nothing," the blonde chirped. I couldn't see Sovereign's face, but I think she was snickering.
What the hell?
"This is not the time for jokes," Armsmaster said curtly. "Anyone who cannot conduct themselves appropriately will be asked to vacate the building."
"So harsh," Kaiser said. "What did you expect involving teenagers?"
"Let's not get off the topic," Coil said. "Mr. Medina is a cape within the city. He is able to attend this little gathering as much as anyone. Let's move on. We all have our affairs."
Trevor stepped back, for some reason staying next to me. I stared at him, trying to illicit some kind of answer, but he just leaned over on one foot, crossed his arms and waited.
And Tattletale kept grinning like she knew something I didn't and she probably did which pissed me off.
Armsmaster just went into it, saying, "At eighteen-hundred sixteen today Newtype raided several locations associated with the ABB, Merchants, and Empire Eighty-Eight." My head turned away from Trevor and I started glaring at Assmaster instead. Why the hell did he just call me out in front of literally everyone? "Also during this time, Laughter attacked what she believed to be a meth lab on the northern edge of Shanty Town. A perpetrator in the building set a fire in the structure, we believe to destroy evidence, and fled. Laughter remained behind in an attempt to rescue five children held in the building. After the fact all five victims were confirmed deceased."
I glanced back at Lafter, whose smile faltered slightly as Armsmaster spoke like a damn newscaster reading off sports statistics.
"The Protectorate is certain now that the villain Cranial is present within Brockton Bay, and as of twenty fourteen today PRT Chief Director Rebecca Costa-Brown and President Colbert have signed a kill order for Cranial, also known as Grace Hicks. This kill order was suggested by myself, Alexandria, and Hero after we determined all five of the victims found this afternoon died as a direct result of invasive procedures almost certainly conducted by Cranial herself. Her Guild Bounty has additionally been increased to two million dollars American, and any villains found to be aiding or abetting her activities will be considered accessories. The PRT and Protectorate have arranged this meeting in order to relay this information, and to establish a standing truce within Brockton Bay while the Protectorate and Guild pursue Cranial with the goal of executing a legal kill order."
I still felt like I needed to catch up to all of that when he just kept going.
"In short, Cranial's activities have reached a point where the Protectorate will no longer allow them to be a secondary concern. She is now considered an unacceptable threat to public safety. After a meeting with the Chief Director and Legend, Direct Piggot and I are in agreement that the Protectorate ENE lacks the manpower to combat the ongoing conflict between the gangs in Brockton Bay and to track down Cranial. I have thus been authorized to issue the following ultimatum."
"The Empire Eighty-Eight, Asian Bad Boyz, Archer's Bridge Merchants, and all other designated villains within Brockton Bay will cease hostilities until the operation against Cranial is complete. If this demand is refused or violated, the Protectorate will deploy twenty of its reserve members to the city, to be led by Eidolon, to end the conflict. Dragon will additionally be deployed to assist in the apprehension and execution of Cranial. Villains who continue to distract the Protectorate or Guild and heroes supporting them in this operation will be fast tracked to the Braumann Parahuman Containment Center, also known as the Birdcage, upon capture."
My jaw slackened.
"I will need verbal confirmation that you understand these terms as I have stated them," Armsmaster said.
"Holy shit," Lafter whispered beside me. "I'm not even a bad guy and I'm really scared right now."
I nodded. That… was not the response I expected from the Protectorate.
I literally needed Veda to replay the speech because I didn't quite believe I heard it. A fast tracked kill order, and a demand that the gangs get out of the way or suffer? That sounded more like something I'd do than the Protectorate.
And wait, "Did you say Dragon is coming to Brockton Bay?"
Armsmaster turned his head toward me and frowned. Right, silent.
"Yes," he said. "That is what I said. She has taken a personal interest in Cranial."
"So," Coil said, "you are telling us to end the gang war now, or the Protectorate will flood us in heroes to be led by Eidolon?"
Armsmaster turned his head forward again. "Yes. Members of this potential team include-"
"No need," Coil said. "I feel no desire to distract from the apprehension and execution of a child torturer and killer. Even villains should have standards."
Kaiser grunted. "We agree, snake. I will not fight if no one fights me." Kaiser tilted his armored head to one side, and then whispered something to Krieg. Krieg whispered back and both men nodded. "We will ask our men on the streets. If the Protectorate is declaring that Cranial will no longer receive the benefit of her secret identity, then we will distribute her picture and see if anyone has seen her in our territory."
The king of the Nazis looked to me.
"Of course, I assume that Newtype will not consider this action a violation of the unwritten rules?"
Shit, he is talking to me. And the entire room watched me, waiting for a response. It felt a bit too familiar, being in a place I didn't like surrounded by people I hated and everyone was watching to see how I'd screw up. Maybe not that last part.
"No," I said quickly. "I'm not going to hound anyone over Cranial's misfortune."
If anything I wanted her too, and if the Nazis decided killing kids crossed a line beating them didn't, whatever.
"I can do the same," Coil said. "The sooner she is dealt with, the sooner we can all get on with our affairs as normal. Is there any estimate on how long the Protectorate needs to execute this operation?"
"Worried about your bottom line?" Brandish asked.
"Things cannot come to a halt in a day, nor can they be held still indefinitely," Coil answered. "Knowing how much time the Protectorate needs to reach its goal will help us help."
Which brought the distaste back to my mouth.
I saw the scheme then. The Protectorate wanted Cranial, especially now that they had evidence she killed the kids she kidnapped. Some of them, at least. It presented a good opportunity to end the gang war too, and maybe if the war got put on pause then it wouldn't start back up again whenever Cranial got taken down.
I didn't have that hope.
I expected the gangs to use the time to rebuild and solidify, and they'd just start fighting again when it suited them.
But it did stop the gang war, for now. That's something I wanted, right? And for once Armsmaster and I found ourselves on the same page. Five dead kids went well past the norm for villains.
"We estimate the operation will take a week," Armsmaster said. "Cranial is only part of the issue. The broader problem are her test subjects. At least a dozen are known to travel with her and we are uncertain of what exactly she has done to them or how they'll react to a concerted effort against her."
Fuck, there's more than just the two?
"Surrounding politics will get complicated," Tattletale said. "Some of those kids are orphans and castaways, but a few have rich parents who will involve themselves. Depending on how messy things get it could take as much as a week."
"And Leviathan is expected to attack in two weeks," Armsmaster added.
"Unfortunate timing," Coil said.
His tone of voice didn't convey the sentiment. Right, pulled my magic trick, and now the Protectorate had one themselves. They wanted to extend the hunt for Cranial into the Endbringer truce. Pressure the gangs into being nice and 'orderly' for nearly a month and hope they didn't pick right back up afterward.
Coil raised a hand and tapped his chin. "Although, not that I wish to cast aspersions, the absence of the Merchants is most curious in this context."
Lung and Kaiser both looked at the snake man.
"Can the Protectorate share further information?" Coil asked.
Armsmaster nodded. "As per standing regulation, the Protectorate will not refuse aid when pursuing any cape with a kill order unless that aid becomes detrimental to the effort or violates the truce between capes. And yes, we have considered the location of the lab and what it may represent concerning the Merchants. Their absence is noted."
"It could be a coincidence," Faultline said. "They've lost Skidmark. Mush and Squealer aren't leaders, and neither is Trainwreck from what I know of him."
"That only increases suspicion," Coil said. "They have no leader, and yet they remain united and coordinated."
I frowned, wondering if Coil was trying to manipulate the situation to remove a rival gang.
Although…
"Oh, Newtype knows something."
I glared at Tattletale.
She raised her hands defensively, saying, "Hey, you're a good person. I figure you're going to spill anyway."
"Is she correct?" Armsmaster asked.
Fucking Tattletale.
The pressure in the room didn't give me much time for internal debate. Choosing my words carefully, I said, "I found a signal linked to those tanks Squealer is building. I don't think it's something she'd come up with. It's too clean and refined for her."
"Trainwreck isn't particularly well known for clean or refined either," Coil said. "We may be looking at the possibility that the Merchants have aligned with Cranial. There have been standing questions about how she funds her research."
"Designer drugs probably," Tattletale said. "Cranial's specialty is the brain and memory. Doesn't take a thinker to figure that she can probably come up with a good high. I haven't seen anything suggesting the Merchants have anything like that though."
I'd almost swear they did a lot of research before showing up. More than I found time for.
"It will be taken into consideration," Armsmaster said. "Newtype, I would like you to share the data you've gathered. That said, the Protectorate will not look kindly on anyone turning this situation to their advantage. If the Merchants are found to be accomplices to Cranial's activities they will be dealt with accordingly and legally."
"I merely share my concerns," Coil said. "None of the children in this city are safe as it is. We hardly need a mad tinker running around and kidnapping them for whatever ghoulish experiments pop into her head."
"I don't normally do work in Brockton Bay," Faultline said, "but I might consider a contract on Cranial."
Glory Girl sneered, her feet rising off the floor. "You expect to be paid?"
Faultline stood fast, saying, "I'm not requesting much. Just enough to maintain my reputation. I'm a professional, not a charity."
"We can speak after this meeting," Coil said. "As I hope is clear, I have my standards. A line there may be between heroes and villains, but there is also a line between villains and monsters. What Cranial is doing crosses the line. If the Protectorate has needs it cannot meet, I am open to discussion about what I can provide."
He talked like a snake too. Not much luck with me and sweet talkers today.
"And what considerations do we get for our, cooperation?"
Now everyone turned to Lung, the giant shirtless man with a metal dragon mask over his face.
"You remain free awhile longer," Armsmaster said.
"I am free now," Lung said.
Bakuda didn't seem so confident. She remained in place, but I saw her weight switch to the foot furthest from Lung. Trouble in the ranks? Oni Lee remained still as a statue, that demon mask staring at nothing in particular.
Armsmaster started to speak, but Lung grunted.
"You demand but offer nothing." He raised his hand, finger pointing. "If I am expected to stay my hand for your convenience, then I'd demand you stay yours for mine."
And the finger pointed at me.
"What?" I asked.
"I am expected to cease fighting. I will not if I am subjected to further insults."
Did he mean my raids? He expects me to do nothing to him in exchange for not being a shit eating asshole for a few days?!
I scowled, a rather harsh retort already on my mind.
"That is not an unfair request," Coil said. "We can easily pull back our activities. Keep things nice and calm in the city so that the Protectorate and others can pursue a true villain." That earned a scoff from some members of New Wave and a chuckle from Tattletale. "It defeats the purpose however if we find ourselves under assault with no choice but to respond."
I've never even touched a penny belonging to you!
And like that the room was staring at me again.
"The Protectorate has no authority over Newtype," Armsmaster said. "She is an independent hero with her own team. That said, it would aid us if she were to refrain from her normal activities for a time."
And of course you agree with snake face and dragon head.
Miss Militia and Stratos both reacted to that, but they didn't say anything.
"I'm not one to care about what villains want," Brandish said. "Practically speaking however, we're talking about entering a temporary truce. Heroes can break that as easily as villains can. It doesn't end any better."
I wanted to say too many things at once, and end up not saying anything. This felt far, far, too familiar. Everyone in the room turning against me in one big wave like they all knew something I didn't. Probably ready to laugh as soon as-
"It's okay," Dinah whispered at my side. "It's the right thing to do."
"She is correct," Veda offered in my earpiece. "Cranial is like Ali Al-Saachez. She is worse than the local gangs and must be dealt with."
Is she? She kills five kids, and that's monstrous, but how many kids did the ABB or the Empire ruin? How many girls in sex slavery and how many children beaten because of their skin color? I didn't buy Coil's act either. I didn't dare ask Dinah what she saw him do to her, but he did something. Anything capable of terrifying her to the degree she'd been when she first came to me didn't give a rats ass about kids and their wellbeing.
"Fine," I snarled, arms crossed over my chest.
Lung grunted.
"Then it is done. Go kill your killer if it pleases you, heroes."
And with that the dragon man walked back the way he came, Bakuda in tow. Oni Lee collapsed into ash, teleporting to a nearby building probably.
"I don't think I have anything further to offer either," Kaiser said. "We'll be on our way."
The Undersiders seemed ready to go too, but Armsmaster asked them, "Before you leave, I would like to speak with Tattletale and Sovereign."
"Moi?" Sovereign asked. "My, that is curious."
"We just might have to agree," Tattletale said.
"Why?" Grue asked.
"Their powers are uniquely situated to be of potential use," Armsmaster said.
"Oh, Armsmaster is asking us for help?" Tattletale asked coyly, with a giant smile. "This is too good! We have to say yes!"
"Indeed," Sovereign agreed. "Let's."
I swear you could hear Armsmaster silently screaming.
"I'm so confused," Trevor said beside me.
"It seems kind of straightforward to me," Dinah said.
"Yeah," Lafter mumbled. "Straightforward."
Coil and Faultline crossed the void of the circle to meet one another, and Armsmaster did the same with Tattletale and Sovereign.
I remained still and silent, brooding at the maybe unreasonable feeling of betrayal in my stomach. I told myself to focus on Cranial. Veda and Dinah were right. She needed to go before she got away, or before more kids died.
And how many more kids did she have? The two I'd seen on the street and tracked to the brownstone weren't among the dead. Did Cranial kidnap them too? They'd been wandering around the city collecting cough drops. Obviously, Cranial intended to use the chemicals inside for something other than meth, but she let her victims walk around and shop for her? Or maybe the two kids weren't related to her at all. Maybe she made a deal with the Merchants for help and supplied them with her own tech in turn. That would explain the tinker tech network linking Squealer's tanks, the network that couldn't possibly be Squealer's tech.
"Sorry about that."
I raised my head, looking up at Stratos.
"It's what needs to be done," he said. "I'm sorry you got singled out like that."
"If it helps," Miss Militia said, standing beside him, "that Lung did that means you're hurting him. He saw a chance to buy a reprieve from your actions and he pressed for it. Coil and Kaiser just went along for the ride and Kaiser is probably happy to join in. They didn't ask New Wave or the Protectorate to stop. I think they're more concerned about you than us."
"Right," I mumbled. They left me hanging out on my own and now they wanted to apologize for it?
And that sounded a little bitchy the moment I thought it.
"How are you doing?" Stratos turned to Lafter. "I saw the crime scene photos. Not pretty."
"I'll feel better when I've got a hand around a certain tinker's throat," Lafter said. "Seeing as killing her is apparently perfectly legal now."
Oh shit, I could see Lafter straight up killing Cra… I could see myself straight up killing Cranial.
The realization hit like a ton of bricks, and I'm not sure what it said about me.
I never put on a mask to kill anyone.
Cranial got a kill order. The Slaughterhouse Nine got kill orders. The true monsters, people who didn't care about anything but destruction. Mom always ranted about the death penalty. About how the state shouldn't kill people. I doubt she'd hold a different opinion about the state granting broad permission to kill someone on the grounds of 'they're more trouble than arresting them is worth.'
"What kind of questions should I answer?" Dinah asked.
"Questions?" Stratos asked back.
"My power," Dinah said. "I get asked a question and it shows me answers. Fifteen or twenty different possibilities. Sometimes more or less."
"That's flexible," Stratos said.
Triumph strolled over to us, followed by Prism. Dauntless crossed over toward where Faultline and Coil spoke, probably to ask about their exact intentions. Not sure where Circus vanished to.
"A shotgun precog," Miss Militia said. "There's a Ward in Anchorage with a similar power. Any question?" She flinched, as if realizing the implication and immediately regretting asking anything. I knew the look pretty well.
"Yeah," Dinah said. "Don't worry. Newtype made me some ear plugs that make all questions statements of fact. I have to turn them off for my power to work." Dinah turned her masked face toward Triumph. "Hi."
Triumph looked down at her. "Hello?"
"We'll laugh about this latter, probably."
"Okay?"
I didn't know what she meant either.
"I'm still really confused," Trevor said.
"And you." Miss Militia's eyes frowned. "I know you're not stupid, Trevor, what were you thinking?"
"What? But I heard everyone was supposed to-"
Actually, Miss Militia had a point. "What are you thinking?" I asked.
Trevor glanced between us. "Wasn't everyone supposed to come?"
"You helped Newtype arrest Othala, then went on a patrol with the Wards, and then showed up to a meeting of every cape in the city and stood next to me." Trevor still apparently didn't get what I meant. "No one knows who you're with Trevor."
His helmet hid his eyes, but I heard that vacant stare.
"I'm not with anyone though."
Idiot.
"That is not an advisable course of action," Miss Militia said. "Especially not if you plan to actively participate in any cape activities."
"I'll say."
I don't know when Vista popped over to us, but I assume she warped space to do it.
"I swear I saw Armsmaster warn you about this," she said.
"Armsmaster warned me about putting on my underwear in the morning."
"He's not lying," Clockblocker said. "Just saying. He's not."
And now I got to agree with Armsmaster again, which I really didn't want to do at the moment.
I thought Trevor picked the Wards, but it seemed increasingly obvious as he spoke with Vista and Clockblocker he hadn't. In fact, I now found myself at an even bigger loss for what exactly he intended to do. He helped me with Othala because Dinah said something to him, and he probably felt bad about managing my identity poorly. Why did he go on a patrol with the Wards if he didn't plan to join though? And why'd he choose to stand with me like we were all on the same team?
Some villain is going to make a really bad assumption about that.
"I'd suggest making a clear statement," Miss Militia said. "Right now people are going to assume you're a member of Newtype's team."
"But I'm not."
"But you stood right next to her for a really serious meeting," Vista said.
"I didn't want to stand by myself."
"Idiot," Clockblocker and I said at the same time.
The sound grew in my ear. I thought nothing of it at first. Brockton Bay didn't have a dedicated airport, but planes flew over the city often enough. The sound grew louder though, closer and closer. I put two and two together at some point after she landed on the roof above us, and turned towards the ramp leading up to the top level and waited.
People kept talking around me, but I kept staring at the dark ramp waiting.
She famously never wore the same suit twice. Obviously people made some really sexist jokes about that, but others took it as proof of just how good a tinker she was. The one that came down the ramp stood about as tall as Astraea, though it bore more organic lines than my suit. Armor sections curved in a way that provided bulk while still giving a sort of feminine appearance to the machine, and of course it bore a certain style uniquely hers.
Horns on the head for example, and talon like ends to the toes and feet. The armor even seemed cut to have a sort of scaled look, with two wings on the back mounting cylindrical engines.
The suit stopped in front of mine, the head looking Astraea over slowly.
"This is amazing work," she said. "I'm impressed."
"Thanks," I said.
She turned to face me. "Hello, Newtype."
I raised my head. "Hi, Dragon."
